Pools were beaten convincingly by Sunderland in their second Central League Cup game in less than a week.

After falling to a 4-1 defeat at the hands of Carlisle United on Wednesday, Ian Butterworth's side lost out 4-0 to the Black Cats.

A Sunderland side marshalled by £8million signing Anton Ferdinand completely dominated the first half at Hetton-le-Hole.

The hosts didn't take long to get on the front foot - Jordan Henderson saw a free kick parried by Jan Budtz who recovered in time to prevent David Dowson from knocking in the rebound.

However, just three minutes later Michael Kay's right wing cross was knocked down into space by Dowson and Jack Colback side-footed into the net.

Dowson made it 2-0 when he lashed home into the top corner from the edge of the box after Pools had been too easily dispossessed in midfield.

It became 3-0 when Henderson's low drive was parried by Budtz only for Colback to fire home the rebound from close range.

Pools only real attacking threat came at the end of the half when David Foley intercepted a loose pass and drove into the penalty area but his low shot was cleared off the line by Anton Ferdinand.

Ian Butterworth's side improved a little after the break as heavy rain swirled around the pitch and Matty Tymon could have reduced the deficit but his effort deflected over following Foley's right-wing corner.

Jordan Cook had a chance for Sunderland when he charged into the box but his shot was kicked away by Budtz.

An excellent run by Jonny Rowell seemed to have opener things up for Tymon but Sunderland defender David Brown got back to put in an excellent last-ditch tackle.

However, with ten minutes left, disaster struck for Pools as Matty Robson's back pass was misjudged by Budtz and it rolled past the keeper and into the back of the net.

Pools rallied with a Michael Mackay shot which flew over the bar but it was Sunderland who always looked the more likely to add to the scoreline.

Sub Nathan Luscombe's positive injury-time run into the penalty area was brilliantly pushed around the post by Jan Budtz as the game finished 4-0 to the hosts.

Full Time: Sunderland 4 Pools 0

Att: 460

Sunderland: Colgan, Kay, Ferdinand (McArdle 60), Hartley, Brown, Henderson (Luscombe 65), Colback, Meyler (Noble 81), Chandler, Cook, Dowson.
Subs not used: Wilson, Reid.

Pools: Budtz, Young, Pelosi (Martin 75), Sharples, Tait, Ellison, Foley, Rowell, Tymon, Mackay, Robson
Subs Not Used: Cook, Scaife, Blackford, Johnson